De Leon 2nd Rays prospect with bad elbow injury this spring

Associated Press

March 7, 2018 6:31 pm

FILE - In this March 2, 2017, file photo, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jose De Leon throws in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. De Leon has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The team said Wednesday, March 7, 2018, on Twitter that he will be examined by Dr. James Andrews. The 25-year-old De Leon is the second top Rays prospect to incur a major elbow injury this spring training.Associated Press

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays say right-hander Jose De Leon has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The team said Wednesday on Twitter that he will be examined by Dr. James Andrews.

The 25-year-old De Leon is the second top Rays prospect to incur a major elbow injury this spring training. Right-hander Brent Honeywell, the MVP of last year's All-Star Futures Game, was hurt pitching batting practice on Feb. 22. Honeywell tweeted on Feb. 28 that he had undergone Tommy John surgery with Andrews.

De Leon made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and was 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts. Acquired the following January by the Rays, he pitched in one game for Tampa Bay last year, winning at Texas on May 29 when he allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings and 69 pitches - the most by a Rays reliever since Chris Archer in September 2012.

He made 10 minor league appearances last year and spent three stints on the disabled list due to discomfort in the flexor mass muscle, a strained lat muscle and forearm tendinitis, and back tightness. He had a pair of one-inning appearances in spring training this year, on Feb. 26 and March 3.